Soil cultivating implements

ABSTRACT

A cultivating implement has a row of soil working members mounted along the length of an elongated portion of the implement frame. The members are rotatable about upwardly extending shafts that are geared to an overlying common driving shaft and an imput shaft drives the driving shaft through a change speed gear secured at one lateral side of the frame portion. The common driving shaft is located below the imput shaft and both shafts extend transverse to the direction of travel. The change speed gear includes interchangeable pinions housed within a box at the lateral side of the frame portion.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 707,346 filed July 21, 1976now U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,731.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a soilcultivating implement of the kind set forth, wherein said soil workingmembers are arranged to be power-driven for rotation about said axesduring operation of the implement and each of them is furnished with atleast one freely rotatable cultivating tool, and wherein theconstruction and disposition of the soil crumbling member are such that,during operation, it will displace soil in two different directions froma location which is in register with an upwardly extending plane thatpasses between the axes of rotation of said two soil working members ina direction parallel to the direction of operative travel at such time.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the samemay be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way ofexample, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a soil cultivating implement in accordance withthe invention,

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the implement of FIG. 1 but with the omissionof a soil crumbling member which is located at the back of theimplement,

FIG. 3 is a section, to an enlarged scale, taken on the line III--III inFIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a section, to an enlarged scale, taken on the line IV--IV inFIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a plan view, to an enlarged scale as compared with FIGS. 1 and2, illustrating the co-operation between the two rotary soil workingmembers of the implement together with their disposition relative to thesoil crumbling member at the back of the implement, and

FIG. 6 is a section, to the same scale as FIG. 4, illustrating analternative embodiment of one part of the implement that is visible incross-section in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, the soilcultivating implement that is illustrated therein comprises a frame thatis generally indicated by the reference 1, said frame including twosubstantially horizontal spaced frame beams 2 that extend substantiallyparallel to one another in transverse, and usually in perpendicular,relationship with the intended direction of operative travel of theimplement which is indicated in FIG. 1 of the drawings by an arrow A.Both frame beams 2 are of hollow formation and have a polygonalcross-section which it is preferred should be, as illustrated, a squareone. Symmetrically opposed bars 3 that are of inverted L-shapedcross-section (see FIG. 4) have upright limbs which are rigidly securedto lower regions of upright front and rear surfaces of the correspondingbeams 2 and substantially horizontal limbs which project towards oneanother from those two beams 2 at a level that is spaced above that ofthe bottoms of the two frame beams 2. Substantially vertically disposedside plates 4 that are both substantially parallel to the direction Ainterconnect the two frame beams 2 at the ends of the latter. The sideplates 4 extend in front of, and behind, the two frame beams 2 withrespect to the direction A and have the ends of the beams 2 rigidlysecured to them at locations close to their uppermost edges. Three gearboxes 5 and one gear box 6 are secured by vertically disposed bolts 7 tothe substantially horizontally disposed limbs of the two bars 3 at suchpositions that the four gear boxes 5 and 6 are spaced apart from oneanother at regular intervals.

Each of the four gear boxes 5 and 6 has a corresponding upwardlyextending, and preferably substantially vertically disposed, shaft 8rotatably mounted therein by means of upper and lower ball bearings 9(FIG. 4) that are spaced apart from one another axially along the shaft8 concerned. Each pair of ball bearings 9 is, in fact, arranged in acorresponding bearing housing 10A that is mounted at the bottom of therespective gear box 5 or 6. The longitudinal axis a of each shaft 8 isalso the axis of rotation of a corresponding rotary soil working memberthat is generally indicated by the reference 10. Each of the four rotarysoil working members 10 comprises a horizontally, or substantiallyhorizontally, disposed support 11 which it is preferred should be, asillustrated in the drawings, of equilateral triangular configurationwhen seen in a direction parallel to the corresponding axis a. Eachsupport 11 is provided with a center internally splined hub 12 whichco-operates with matching external splines near the lowermost end of thecorresponding shaft 8 which end projects from beneath the bottom of thebearing housing 10A of the gear box 5 or 6 concerned. Each hub 12 isenclosed between an overlying flange 13 of the corresponding shaft 8 andan underlying washer 14 that co-operates with a corresponding nut 15(FIG. 3) screwed onto a short axially disposed screwthreaded stub shaftat the lowermost end of the shaft 8 under consideration. Each of thesupports 11 comprises two identically shaped sheet metal parts or platesthat are located one above the other (see FIG. 4), both said sheet metalparts or plates being rigidly welded to the external surface of thecorresponding hub 12 at the center of the support 11 concerned. Thethree corners of each triangular support 11 are provided with threedownwardly directed stub shafts 16 whose longitudinal axes b are innon-parallel relationship with the axis of rotation a of thecorresponding rotary soil working member 10. As can be seen best in FIG.3 of the drawings, the three stub shafts 16 that correspond to eachsupport 11 are arranged so that their longitudinal axes b are downwardlyconvergent with the result that the upper ends of said stub shafts 16are further apart from one another than are the lower ends thereof. Thearrangement is, in fact, preferably such that, at the point ofintersection between one of the axes a and any one of the correspondingthree axes b, those axes a and b are inclined to one another at an angleof substantially 6°.

The portions of the three stub shafts 16 of each rotary soil workingmember 10 that project downwardly beneath the corresponding support 11taper towards their extremities and each includes at least two rightcircular cylindrical shoulders which co-operate with the inner races ofcorresponding upper and lower ball bearings 17. The outer races of theaxially spaced apart ball bearings 17 co-operate with the hub 17A of acorresponding freely rotatable cultivating tool 19. Each tool 19 has asupport 18 which comprises the hub 17A concerned and three straight arms20 which radiate from the hub 17A at 120° intervals around the axis bconcerned but which are also inclined downwardly towards the groundsurface from the hub 17A to their outermost ends. The outermost ends ofthe three arms 20 of each tool support 18 comprise three sleeve-liketine holders 21 in which are firmly, but releasably, received fasteningportions 22 of three rigid soil working tines that are each generallyindicated by the reference 23. The fastening portion 22 of each tine 23is shaped to co-operate with the interior of the sleeve-like holder 21which receives it and its extreme uppermost end is formed with a shortscrewthreaded portion that co-operates with a fastening nut 24A to keepthe tine 23 in question firmly connected to its holder 21. The fasteningnuts 24A preferably, but not essentially, include inserts designed toprevent vibration during the use of the implement from working themloose. Each tine 23 also includes a soil working portion 24 that is ofdownwardly tapering configuration and that initially extendsrectilinearly downwards from its junction with the correspondingfastening portion 22. The lowermost end of each soil working portion 24is bent over rearwardly in a substantially regularly curved manner withrespect to the intended direction of operative rotation about thecorresponding axis b of the cultivating tool 19 under consideration, therear of each soil working portion 24 with respect to that directionbeing formed with a projecting rib 23A.

The uppermost end of each shaft 8 is provided, inside the correspondinggear box 5 or 6, with a crown wheel or bevel pinion 25 whose teeth arein driven mesh with those of a smaller bevel pinion 26 carried by asubstantially horizontal shaft 27 or 28. The coaxial substantiallyhorizontal shafts 27 and 28 extend transverse, and usuallyperpendicular, to the direction A and, as can be seen in FIG. 3 of thedrawings, their adjacent splined ends are drivingly interconnected by asleeve 29 formed with corresponding internal splines. It is, in fact,preferable to secure the sleeve 29 fixedly to one of the two shafts 27and 28 so that it will then constitute a socket for the reception of theother co-operating shaft. The shaft 27 constitutes a common drivingshaft for three of the four rotary soil working members 10 while thecoaxial shaft 28 is a driving shaft for the fourth member 10 which isthe member located at the left-hand end of the row of four members whenthe implement is viewed from the rear in the direction A (see FIGS. 1and 2). Tubular casings 30 surround the shaft 27, and one end of theshaft 28, between the four gear boxes 5 and 6 for purposes of safety andcleanliness. The end of the shaft 28 that is remote from its coaxialconnection to the shaft 27 is splined and projects into the hollowinterior 31 of a change-speed gear that is generally indicated by thereference 39. Said splined end of the shaft 28 releasably receives thematchingly internally splined hub of a straight-toothed or spur-toothedpinion 32 whose teeth are in driven mesh with those of a similar, butsmaller, pinion 33. The pinion 33 is releasably mounted, in an axiallyslidable manner, on the splined end of a shaft 34 which is located abovethe shaft 28 in parallel relationship therewith, the shaft 34 beingrotatably supported by a pair of axially spaced apart ball bearings 35.The end of the shaft 34 that is remote from the pinion 33 projectsoutwardly above a top plate of the gear box 6 in a direction parallel tothe common longitudinal axis of the shafts 27 and 28 and is splined forconnection to a further shaft as will be discussed below. The hollowinterior 31 of the change-speed gear 39 is closed by a circularinternally dished cover 36, wing nuts 37 being provided so that saidcover 36 can readily be removed from, and replaced in, its effectiveposition. That surface of the base of the internally dished cover 36that faces inwardly of the hollow interior 31 of the change-speed gear39 is provided with two thrust members 38 which are so arranged as toprevent the hubs of the pinions 32 and 33 from becoming axially detachedfrom the shafts 28 and 34 when the cover 36 is in its effectiveposition. When the wing nuts 37 have been released and the cover 36 hasbeen removed from the change-speed gear 39, the two pinions 32 and 33can readily be axially slid off the splined ends of the two shafts 28and 34 and can be interchanged in position or be exchanged for analternative pair of co-operating straight-toothed or spur-toothedpinions that are not illustrated in the drawings. Any chosen one of anumber of different transmission ratios between the shaft 34 and theshaft 28 can thus be readily obtained and FIG. 3 of the drawingsillustrates, in broken lines, the substitution of a bigger pinion forthe pinion 33, such bigger pinion than co-operating with a pinion thatis smaller than the pinion 32 on the splined end of the shaft 28. Anyone of a number of different speeds of rotation of the soil workingmembers 10 can thus be employed without having to alter the initiatingspeed of rotation of the shaft 34 that is driven from the power take-offshaft of an agricultural tractor or other operating vehicle in a mannerwhich will be described below. It will be seen from FIG. 3 of thedrawings that a lower portion of the casing of the change-speed gear 39is shaped to contain a supply of oil for the shafts 28 and 34 and theirbearings and the co-operating pinions such as the pinions 32 and 33. Itwill be noted from FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings that the change-speedgear 39 is located close to one of the lateral sides of the frame 1 ofthe implement.

The splined end of the shaft 34 that projects from the casing of thechange-speed gear 39 is in driven connection with the splined end of acoaxial shaft 41 by way of a matchingly internally splined sleeve 40which, like the sleeve 29, may be arranged in the manner of a socket.The opposite splined end of the shaft 41 is coaxially connected by afurther similar sleeve 42 (FIGS. 1 and 2) to the splined end of anoutput shaft 43 of a central gear box 44 of the implement. The gear box44 is fastened by supports 45 to the two bars 3 that are carried by theframe beams 2. The output shaft 43 of the central gear box 44 isprovided, inside that gear box, with a bevel pinion 46 (FIG. 4) whoseteeth are in driven mesh with those of a smaller bevel pinion 47 that iscarried by a rotary input shaft 48 of the gear box 44, said input shaft48 having a splined end which projects forwardly from the front of thegear box in substantially the direction A. When the implement is in use,a telescopic transmission shaft 49 (FIG. 1) is employed to place therotary input shaft 48 of the central gear box 44 in driven connectionwith the power take-off shaft of an agricultural tractor or otheroperating vehicle, said transmission shaft 49 being of a constructionthat is known per se and being provided at its opposite ends withuniversal joints.

Upright support lugs 50 (FIG. 2) are carried by the two bars 3 at equaldistances from the opposite ends of the frame beams 2, said lugs 50 thusbeing arranged in two pairs with each pair carrying corresponding pivotpins 51 that are axially aligned in a direction that is substantiallyhorizontally parallel to the direction A. Each pair of pivot pins 51 hasa corresponding pair of arms 52 turnably mounted thereon, said arms 52initially being outwardly convergent towards the adjacent end of theframe 1 and then being bent over downwardly through 90° alongside oneanother to carry corresponding shield plates 53 at the lower end of eachpair of arms 52. The shield plates 53 are substantially verticallydisposed in parallel relationship with one another and with thedirection A and their lower edges are arranged for sliding motion in thedirection A over the surface of the land that is worked by the implementduring its operation. The pivotal mountings of the shield plates 53allow them to turn upwardly and downwardly about the axes defined by thepins 51 to match undulations in the surface of the land that may be metwith during operative travel in the direction A. The shield plates 53act to minimise ridging of the soil at the margins of the broad stripthereof that is worked by the implement and to prevent any significantnumbers of stones and the like from being flung laterally of the path oftravel of the implement by its soil working members 10.

Each of the two side plates 4 is provided near its lower edge, andapproximately midway along its length in the direction A, with ahorizontal stub shaft 54 (FIG. 4) about which a corresponding arm 55 isupwardly and downwardly turnable. The arms 55 extend rearwardly from thestub shafts 54 alongside the side plates 4 and carry lugs 57A on theirupper edges. Each side plate 4 is formed, near its rearmost edge, with acurved row of holes 58 that are equidistant from the axis defined by thesubstantially horizontally aligned stub shafts 54 and each of the twolugs 57A is formed with a single hole that can be brought into registerwith any chosen one of the corresponding row of holes 58. Bolts 56A areprovided for horizontal entry through the holes in the lugs 57A andthrough the selected holes 58. When the bolts 56A are tightened, theymaintain the arms 55 in chosen angular positions about the axis definedby the stub shafts 54 relative to the frame 1. The rearmost ends of thetwo arms 55 are provided with substantially horizontally alignedbearings 56 (FIG. 5) and stub shafts 59 at the opposite ends of asupporting and crumbling member in the form of a freely rotatably roller57 are journalled in the two bearings 56. The roller 57 comprises aplurality, such as five, of regularly spaced apart substantiallycircular support plates 58A that all extend substantially verticallyparallel to one another and to the direction A, the two support plates58A which are located at the opposite ends of the roller 57 having thetwo stub shafts 59 welded in position, or otherwise rigidly mounted, attheir centers. Twelve holes are formed close to the periphery of eachsupport plate 58A, except for the center support plate 58A of the rowthereof, the twelve holes being spaced apart from one another at regular30° intervals around the centre-point of each support plate. The centralsupport plate 58A of the row is also formed with similarly disposedholes but, in its case, there are twenty-four of those holes which areregularly spaced apart from one another at 15° intervals around thecenterpoint of the support plate.

Two groups of elongated elements 60 are provided, each group comprisingtwelve of the elongated elements 60, individual ones of which areentered through twelve alternate holes of the twenty-four holes in thecentral support plate 58A of the roller 57 and through the twelve holesin each of the two (in the embodiment that is being described) supportplates 58A that are located in regularly spaced apart relationship atone side of the central support plate 58A. Each elongated element 60extends in the same general direction as the axis of rotation of theground roller 57 but, as will be evident from FIG. 5 of the drawings,not truly parallel to that axis of rotation. Each individual element 60is preferably of solid rod-like formation, as illustrated in FIG. 4,although it is possible, as an alternative, for it to be of hollowtubular formation. Each individual element 60 extends throughoutsubstantially, although not exactly, half of the axial length of theroller 57, the twelve elongated elements 60 of one group overlapping thetwelve of the other group at the central support plate 58A where theelements 60 of one group are entered through twelve of the twentyfourholes in that support plate while the twelve elongated elements 60 ofthe other group are entered alternately through the other twelve holestherein. The central support plate 58A thus co-operates supportinglywith both of the two groups of twelve elongated elements 60. Theelongated elements 60 are not a tight fit in the holes in the supportplates 58A and the ends of those elements 60 are movable axially to alimited extent in the holes in the particular plates 58A with which saidends co-operate, small transverse pins 61, that may conveniently beso-called "safety" pins which are of a construction that is known perse, being entered through transverse bores in the extreme opposite endsof all of the elements 60 to prevent those ends from becoming detachedaxially from the support plates 58A with which they co-operate.

FIG. 5 of the drawings shows that each of the twelve elongated elements60 of one group thereof is formed at substantially its midpoint, andthus at a location substantially in register with one of the fivesupport plates 58A that are provided in the embodiment that is beingdescribed, with a sharp angular bend or "kink". The point of eachangular bend or kink is orientated rearwardly with respect to thedirection in which the roller 57 will rotate during operation of theimplement and it will also be seen from FIG. 5 of the drawings that,from the angular bend or kink in each element 60 that is locatedsubstantially in one of the circumferential holes in one of the supportplates 58A, that element 60 is wound helically around the axis ofrotation of the roller 57 in a symmetrically opposite manner from thesupport plate 58A that coincides with the sharp angular bend or kinktherein towards the two immediately neighbouring plates 58A of the rowthereof. FIG. 5 also shows that the support plate 58A which isillustrated therein and that coincides with the sharp angular bends orkinks in the twelve elongated elements 60 of one group is in substantialregister, in the direction A, with a substantially vertical plane thatis parallel to the direction A and that passes midway between the axesof rotation a of two immediately neighbouring soil working members 10that revolve in opposite directions during the use of the implement.Although not essential, it is preferred that each of the twenty-fourelongated elements 60 should be of circular cross-section. Only one ofthe two groups of elongated elements 60 is illustrated in detail in FIG.5 of the drawings but it is noted that the other group of twelveelements 60, which is located to the left of the illustrated group, issymmetrically identical in construction and arrangement and is sodisposed that the support plate 58A which coincides in position with thesharp angular bends or kinks in the twelve elements 60 of thecorresponding group is substantially coincident with a substantiallyvertical plane that extends parallel to the direction A and that passesmidway between the axes of rotation a of the other co-operating pair ofsoil working members 10 which revolve in opposite directions during theuse of the implement.

Each of the two side plates 4 of the frame 1 is provided close to itslowermost edge, but at a location a short distance forwardly from theneighbouring stub shaft 54A with respect to the direction A, with asubstantially horizontal stub shaft 62 about which a corresponding arm63 (FIG. 4) is turnable upwardly and downwardly alongside theimmediately adjacent plate 4. The arms 63 extend forwardly with respectto the direction A from the aligned stub shafts 62 and their upper edgesare provided with corresponding brackets 64 which are formed, near theiruppermost extremities, with corresponding single holes. Each side plate4 is formed towards its leading edge with a curved row of holes 66 thatare equidistant from the axis defined by the aligned stub shafts 62, thesingle holes in the brackets 64 being at the same distance from saidaxis. The single holes in the brackets 64 can be brought into registerwith any chosen ones of the holes 66 in the corresponding rows and bolts65 are provided for horizontal entry through those aligned holes sothat, when tightened the bolts 65 maintain the arms 63 in chosen angularpositions about the axis defined by the stub shaft 62 relative to theframe 1. The two arms 63 are provided close to their leading free endswith horizontal axle pins 67 between which a levelling member in theform of a further roller 68 is mounted in a freely rotatable manner. Theroller 68, like the roller 57, extends throughout substantially thewhole of the working width of the four soil working members 10. FIG. 6of the drawings illustrates the provision of an alternative form oflevelling member that is afforded by a non-rotary bar 68A of L-shapedcross-section, the opposite ends of the bar 68A being welded orotherwise rigidly secured to the two arms 63 very close to the leadingends of those two arms. It will be seen from FIG. 6 of the drawings thatthe upper limb of the bar 68A is of greater extent than the lower limband that said two limbs project rearwardly and upwardly and rearwardlyand downwardly, respectively, relative to the direction A, from thejunction between them.

A further frame beam 69 (FIG. 4) extends parallel to the two frame beams2 at a location in front of the leading one of those two beams 2 withrespect to the direction A, the further frame beam 69 being disposed atthe same horizontal level as the two frame beams 2 and being of the sameconstruction as those two beams. The opposite ends of the further framebeam 69, like the opposite ends of the frame beams 2, are both welded orotherwise rigidly secured to the two substantially vertical side plates4 of the frame 1. A coupling member or trestle 70 of generallytriangular configuration is rigidly secured to the front of the furtherframe beam 69 at a location midway between the planes of the two sideplates 4. The coupling member or trestle 70 is constructed and arrangedfor connection to the three-point lifting device or hitch at the rear ofan agricultural tractor or other operating vehicle in a manner which isgenerally known per se but which can be seen, in outline, in FIG. 1 ofthe drawings. The apex of the coupling member or trestle 70 is connectedby two downwardly and rearwardly divergent tie beams 71 to two locationsthat are disposed towards the rearmost ends of two frame beams 72 thatboth extend substantially paralel to the direction A at positionsbetween the side plates 4 in rigidly interconnecting relationship withthe transverse frame beams 2 and 69. As can be seen in FIG. 4 of thedrawings, portions of the frame beams 72 are arched upwardly so as topass over the top of the tubular casings 30 of the common driving shaft27.

In the use of the soil cultivating implement that has been describedwith reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings or with reference tothose Figures as modified by FIG. 6 of the drawings, the coupling memberor trestle 70 is connected to the three-point lifting device or hitch atthe rear of an agricultural tractor or other operating vehicle and therotary input shaft 48 of the central gear box 44 is placed in drivenconnection with the power takeoff shaft of the same tractor or othervehicle by way of the known telescopic transmission shaft 49 which hasuniversal joints at its opposite ends. The speed of rotation of the fourmembers 10 in response to a substantially standard speed of rotationapplied to the input shaft 48 is dependent upon the pinion arrangement,as discussed above, in the chang speed gear 39 and factors to be takeninto consideration in choosing an appropriate speed include the natureand condition of the soil that is to be cultivated and the degree offineness thereof that is required after treatment. The depth ofpenetration of the tines 23 into the soil will be principally dependentupon the level of the axis of rotation of the roller 57 that is chosenrelative to the level of the frame 1, said level being dictated by theangular positions of the arms 55 that are chosen about the axis definedby the stub shafts 54. Once this adjustment has been made, the levellingmember that is afforded by the roller 68 or bar 68A is adjusted in asimilar manner to bring it substantially into contact with the groundsurface. As the implement advances in the direction A over the soil thatis to be worked thereby, the drive transmission that has been describedwill cause the four soil working members 10 to be positively rotatedaround the corresponding axes a in the directions that are indicated bythe large arrows at the top of FIG. 5 of the drawings, the other twomembers 10 revolving in symmetrically identical directions.Simultaneously, the cultivating tools 19 will rotate in the directionsthat are indicated by smaller arrows in FIG. 5 of the drawings in a moreor less continuous manner because, at any given instant, the whole ofeach tool 19 is being positively displaced around the corresponding axisa and will, except momentarily, have two tines 23 located at one side ofthe corresponding axis b and one tine 23 located at the other sidethereof. Since the axes b are not in parallel relationship with thecorresponding axes a, those tines 23 that, at any instant, are furtherfrom the corresponding axis a than is their own individual axis ofrotation b, will have their soil working portions 24 entered more deeplyinto the soil than will any tine 23 that is closer to the correspondingaxis a than is its respective axis b. Moreover, as will be evident fromFIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawings, any such former tine 23 will have thelowermost bent-over end of its soil working portion 24 orientatedgenerally forwardly with respect to the direction of rotation of thewhole member 10 concerned about its axis a whereas any such latter tine23 will have the lower bentover end of its soil working portion 24orientated generally rearwardly relative to the direction of rotation ofthe corresponding whole soil working member 10. These factors cause thetools 19 to revolve more or less continuously in the directionsindicated by the small arrows in FIG. 5 but it will be realised that,should at least one tine 23 of one of the tools 19 meet a firmlyembedded stone or other substantially immovable obstacle, rotation aboutthe axis b concerned would momentarily cease or might even be reversedfor a very short time until the obstacle was avoided.

The tools 19 of the successive members work overlapping strips of soilso that, in effect, a single broad strip of land is worked by theimplement. The supporting and crumbling member that is afforded by theroller 57 comprises a group of the elongated elements 60 in respect ofeach of the two pairs of co-operating members 10 in which the twomembers of the pair revolve in opposite directions as illustrated forone such pair in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The level of the axis ofrotation of the roller 57 which is chosen relative to that of the frame1 is the principal factor which governs the maximum depth of penetrationof the tines 23 into the soil which is possible. Since the elongatedelements 60 of each group have sharp angular bends or kinks midway alongtheir lengths, the points of said bends or kinks being orientatedrearwardly with respect to the operative direction of rotation of theroller 57 and said bends or kinks being located in register with theregions between the pairs of co-operating members 10 in which soildisplaced thereby is principally delivered rearwardly therefrom, theelements 60 tend to displace such delivered soil further in twodifferent directions along the symmetrically oppositely wound portionsof the elements 60 that are to be found at opposite sides of the supportplates 58A which coincide in position with the bends or kinks in theelements 60. The two different directions in which such soil isdisplaced by each group of elements 60 are substantially, but notnecessarily exactly, opposite directions and this construction andarrangement has the effect of greatly reducing, if not substantiallyeliminating, ridges of soil which would otherwise tend to be formed inline, in the direction A, with the soil delivery regions between theco-operating pairs of members 10. A very uniformly worked soil surfaceis thus left after the passage of the implement and, since the elements60 of the roller 57 are displaceable axially to a limited extentlengthwise along the roller 57, they are capable of matching any smalldiscontinuities in the ground surface very readily.

The downwardly convergent arrangement of the axes of rotation b of thethree tools 19 of each member 10 is such as to ensure effective and moreor less continuous ground-driven rotation of the tools 19 around theaxis b in conjunction with the bent-over lower ends of the soil workingportions 24 of the tines 23. This arrangement also ensures that thebent-over ends of the soil working portions 24 of the tines 23 are closeto one another at locations in substantial alignment with the axes ofrotation a of the members 10 themselves, said portions of the tines 23being closer to one another than are the fastening portions 22 of thetines 23 of different tools 19 of the same member 10. The arrangement ofthe change-speed gear 39 close to one end of the row of soil workingmembers 10 ensures that it is readily accessible when an interchange orexchange of pinions therein is necessary and this ready accessibility isparticularly welcome when a further agricultural implement, tool ormachine is connected to the rear of the soil cultivating implement foruse therewith because such further implement, tool or machine wouldgreatly impede access to a rear-mounted change-speed gear. Theparticular construction and arrangement of the shafts 28 and 34 whichhas been described, and which is illustrated in the drawings,considerably facilitates the assembly of the implement and the work thatis required when any part of the drive transmission requiresreplacement.

Although various features of the soil cultivating implement that havebeen described and that are illustrated in the accompanying drawingswill be set forth in the following claims as inventive features, it isemphasised that the invention is not necessarily limited to thosefeatures and that it includes within its scope each of the parts of thesoil cultivating implement that has been described, and/or that isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, both individually and invarious combinations.

What we claim is:
 1. A soil cultivating implement comprising a frame anda plurality of soil working members arranged in a row and rotatablymounted along the length of a transverse, elongated portion of saidframe, said members being in driven arrangement with each other androtatable about upwardly extending axes defined by respective shafts anddriving means connected to rotate said members, said driving meansincluding an upper rotary shaft and a lower driving shaft that extendhorizontally transverse to the direction of implement travel, saidrotary shaft having an outer lateral end that engages said driving shaftthrough a change speed gear arrangement, said driving shaft including acoaxial shaft segment that drives an outer one of said members, saiddriving shaft comprising a common driving shaft for the remaining soilworking members that extends in transverse alignment with said row, asseen in plan, and adjacent the respective upwardly extending shafts ofsaid members, said speed gear arrangement comprising interchangeablegears arranged one above the other in a gear box secured adjacent onelateral side of the frame portion, said rotary driving shafts beingsupported above the length of said elongated frame portion.